What does the ship represent in Acts 27:22?

[pajaro]

"And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship."
(Acts 27:22)
Does this ship, which is said to be of Alexandria (Egypt) and sailing into Italy (which means calf-like) represent anything? Or is it just a ship, nothing more?

 

[Brad Huber]

The ship is a blessing to man, carrying him above the waters (which has great power for good and destruction) much like the Ark did. So the blessing of the ship was removed, but their lives were spared.

 

[Hekuran]

I can't see anything within the text to suggest that we need to think of the ship as anything more than a means of transport.

 

[Chad]

Asbury Commentary

Shipwreck (27:14-44)
Caught between Fair Havens and Phoenix by a northeaster, in the shelter of Cauda, the ship finds brief respite to rig for the storm (vv. 14-16). Fearing that the storm would drive them onto the deadly quicksands (Syrtis) of the north coast of Africa, they lowered the sails, threw out the cargo (other than the wheat that was so vital to Rome) and the ship's equipment, and gave themselves to the mercy of the storm (vv. 17-20).

Since Paul's prediction had come to pass, the centurion begins to listen when Paul claims that God has promised the lives of all on the ship and follows Paul's orders, which enables all to arrive safely on Malta (vv. 21-44). Undoubtedly the steadfastness of Paul's reliance upon God and the witness of his trust in God in the face of death must have moved Julius.